Sheep-branding machine.



No. 849,691. PATENTED APR. 9, 1907. J. A. MAGBLSSEN.

SHEEP BRANDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.3, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFIGE.

SHEEP-BRANDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed March a, 1906. Serial No. 304.079.

To all whom i2; may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB Air. MAGELS- SEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Melville, in the county of Sweet Grass and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Sheep-Branding Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a machine adapted to produce or paint a mark of identification, commonly called a brand, upon sheep or other live stock, and in particular to a device which may be operated by hand to mark a large number of sheep or other animals with any desired brand or mark of identification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and reliable device of this character at a small cost and in which the printing or painting mechanism will be automatically supplied with liquid coloring material in such a manner that a large number of sheep, for example, may be easily and quickly marked for identification by simply applying the device to the desired part of the animal for an instant and which will cause no pain or annoyance to said animal.

XVith these objects in view I have shown in the accompanying drawings the construction of a device embodying the principles of my invention, and in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of the branding device, taken substantially on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away and with the reservoir removed and also showing by dotted lines the relative position of the lower mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken from the left of Fig. 1 and showing parts broken away.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 2 represents a thin metallic plate u on which is mounted a frame 4 of any suitab e and preferred size and shape, said frame being secured to the plate 2 by metal straps 5, bolted at 6. To the central part of these straps 5 may conveniently be secured a suitable handle 7. One end of the frame 4. is provided with a small angular chamber 8, closed at the top, but communicating with the inside of said frame 1, as shown in Fig. 1.

This chamber extends a short distance below the upper surface of the plate 2 and communicates at its lower open end with a depression 9 in the upper surface of the plate 2. The function of said depression will be more fully described hereinafter.

A suitable can or reservoir 10, corresponding in shape to that of the frame 4 and containing the ink or paint, as the case may be, is inserted into the frame 4 and is provided at one end with a spout 11, which when the reservoir is in position extends into the chamber S, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The lower surface of the plate 2 is provided with hollow extensions, the horizontal boundary of which conforms to the desired brand or mark of identification, which in the illustrated example consists of a letter F, having a short bar above and below it, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. This mark of identification is merely a fanciful one and is used in this case merely to illustrate the construction and operation of the device, and it is to be understood that any desired brand or symbol may be substituted therefor without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The depression 9 is provided with valves 12, which cooperate with apertures in the plate 2, and the said depression may communicate with. a channel 13, which in turn connnunicates with a similar depression 1 1, having a valve 15, cooperating with another aperture in the plate 2, the number of valved apertures in said plate being merely sullicient so that each separate part of the identification-mark is provided with one. The lower faces of the hollow extensions on the plate 2 are preferably covered with netting 16, and each extension works freely in a similar series of hollow extensions, which are slightly larger than the first-mentioned series and mounted on the lower side of a second flat plate 17. The horizontal boundary of these last-mentioned extensions is the exact shape of the identilication-mark to be printed. In other words, the second series of extensions form hollow type, and their faces are covered with suitable netting and absorbent cloth, such as wool, felt, &c., as designated at 18.

Between the plates 2 and 17 and secured to each of them is a compressible air bag or cushion 19, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and which may be formed of rubber, cloth, or other suitable material.

From the foregoing description the operation of my device will be easily understood. When the can or reservoir 10, containing the printing fluid, is inserted in the frame 4, the fluid will run out slowly through the spout 1 1 into the chamber 8, depression 9, channel 13, and depression 14. The face of the type or brand is applied to a smooth surface by manipulation of the handle 7, and the air con tained in the hollow extensions when the upper series are telescoped within the lower series raises the valves 12 and 15, allowing the fluid to saturate the absorbent material 18, and the device is ready to be applied to a sheep, for example, to brand the mark of identification thereon. The air-cushion 19 separates the two plates 2 and 17 slightly when the face of the type is raised from the animal. When the device is applied subsequently, a small amount of fluid is fed through the valves 12 and 15, as described above.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a self-inking .or fountain branding device which will effectually operate until the fluid is all exhausted, when it will be merely necessary to refill the reservoir 10.

While I have shown the frame 4 and the reservoir 10 as rectangular in form, said parts, if found desirable in practice, may be oval or round or of any other suitable and preferred shape.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A branding-machine comprising hollow type, tubular extensions telescoping in the hollow type, a reservoir for containing a marking fluid, and means for feeding the marking fluid from the reservoir to said telescoping extensions.

2. A branding-machine comprising hollow type and telescoping extensions therefor, and a reservoir for containing a marking fluid, said extensions being provided with valves for controlling the supply of marking fluid from the reservoir to the said extensions.

3. In a branding-machine, the combination of two flat plates, each having hollow extensions which telescope, a reservoir for containing a marking fluid, means for feeding the marking fluid to the said extensions, and an air-cushion between said plates, substantially as described.

4. In a branding-machine, the combination of two flat plates, each having hollow extensions which telescope, a reservoir for containing a marking fluid, valves for controlling the supply of marking fluid to the extensions, and an air-cushion between said plates, one of said extensions having an absorbent face.

5. In a branding-machine, the combination of a plurality of flat plates, each having hollow extensions which telescope, the extensions of one plate having absorbent facings, and the extensions of the other plate having valved openings communicating therewith, and a reservoir in communication with the upper plate.

6. In a branding-machine, the combination of a flat plate having depressions and valved openings therein, hollow extensions communicating with said openings, hollow type in which the extensions telescope, and a reservoir communicating with said depressions.

7. In a branding-machine, the combination of a flat plate having depressions, and valved openings therein, hollow extensions communicating with said openings, a reservoir communicating with said depressions, and hollow type, said hollow extensions telescoping with the hollow type, the latter having absorbent faces.

8. In a branding-machine, the combination of two plates each having hollow extensions projecting from its under face, said extensions telescopin in one another, a yielding body between the said plates, a reservoir for containing a marking fluid, and means for feeding the marking fluid from the reservoir to the said extensions.

9. In a branding-machine, the combination of a plate having communicating depressions in its upper face and valved openings in said depressions, said plate also hav ing hollow extensions projecting from its lower face around said openings, a reservoir for supplying a marking fluid to said plate, a second plate provided with depending hollow type in which the extensions of the first plate telescope, and an air-cushion between said plates.

10. In a branding-machine, the combination of a frame having communicating depressions and openings in its bottom and. provided at one end with a chamber communieating with one depression, and with hollow extensions projecting from the under face of its bottom around the openings thereof, a reservoir on the frame and having a spout projecting into the chamber of the frame, and hollow type into which the said extensions telescope.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB AAL MAGELSSEN.

Witnesses:

J. E. Roncnnn, F. E. TAYLOR. 

